I have done some research on this and found some interesting things over the years. I have rebuilt 5 engines, (no waterboxers but maybe soon) and wanted to get the most life out of them. The very first engine I rebuilt was in 1971 for my '65 MGB, and the bottom half of that engine is still on spec for compression and oil pressure with over 200k. (I have rebuilt the head twice.) Here is what the "experts" have written: 1. If your engine has not be "run in" for 20 minutes by the rebuilder, then you should do this first to break in the cam properly. This consists of starting the engine (set everything up as close to correct as you can so it starts immediately, no extensive cranking!) and free running it at 2000 rpm for 20 minutes. This engine speed (no driving!) keeps some of the downward force of the lifters off the top of the cam lobes while they get oiled and run in with good oil pressure. (The lifters "float" a bit from the high speed upward movement and don't follow the top and down side of the lobe with full pressure, so the theory goes.) This also lets you check the cooling system, since the engine should not overheat in this 20 minutes. If cam break-in lube was used in the rebuild, you should change the oil now so that the extra lubrication doesn't prevent proper ring seating, which requires some friction. 2. Next, one published expert recommends that you now find a moderate hill and do the following: Drive enough to warm up the engine and then go up the hill. Snap the accelerator to the floor and accelerate up the hill (keep it legal), turn around at the top and coast all the way down. Repeat 10 times. This seats the rings by putting compression pressure on them on the way up, and oils the rings on the way down by sucking oil up to the cylinders under the high vacuum created while coasting with the accelerator released. 3. Varying your speed on the freeway is required for the same reason. You should accelerate hard every once in a while and coast down to 45 mph or so, and repeat a few times as well as varying your speed, and stop at 50 mile intervals to let things cool off. 4. Change the oil and filter at 500 miles. Most experts consider an engine fully broken in at 5000 miles. Then you can add exotic treatments like Slick 50 if you want. I have had great success with these methods over the years.
-- Stuart MacMillan Manager, Case Program 800-909-8244 ext 208 Getting your share of the Net yet? http://www.cobaltgroup.com http://www.casedealer.com/demo http://www.caseihdealer.com/demo |
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